Communication Skills 2 – Intermediate

Course Prerequisite(s)

Please note that this course has the following prerequisites which must be completed before it can be accessed
Communication Skills Course 1: Essential

About Course

Introduction
General Communication Skills Course II – Intermediate includes a General Language Skills unit, just as General Communication Skills Course I – Basics did. Again, be reminded that at the heart of all communication is a good command of the language you are using. The fewer mistakes you make and the wider your knowledge in semantics (various words you can use), grammar (how to structure sentences and use the correct words forms) and stylistics (how to express yourself appropriately and efficiently), the more confident you will become in all communication processes. After checking on your competence in the use of tenses in Course I, this study session offers a survey of a further important aspect of language which can prove tricky to beginners and specialists alike in the field of vocabulary competence: Phrasal Verbs. Again, for students with a good command of English in all its aspects, this may be pure repetition, but it is an opportunity to check on your language competence in these important fields.

Learning Outcomes:
On completing this study session, you will
1. have greater confidence and ease in using collocations in English;
2. have acquired a sensitivity for the use of collocations and hence have the knowledge how to expand your language skills in this area;

Terminologies:
Collocation = “The habitual juxtaposition or association, in the sentences of a language, of a particular word with other particular words; a group of words so associated.” (Oxford English Dictionary)

Course Content

Lesson 1: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Communication Skills in Focus

1.1 Introduction
1.2. Artificial Intelligence: A Short History
1.2.1 Early Fantasies: Jonathan Swift
1.2.2 Recent History of AI
1.3 Some Core Feature and Usages of AI in Communication
1.3.1 Major AI Developments
1.3.1.1 Natural Language Processing (NLP)
1.3.1.2 Large Language Models (LLMs)
1.3.1.3 Machine Translation
1.3.2 Major AI Tools for Communication
1.3.2.1 Grammar and Spell Checker
1.3.2.2 Paraphraser
1.3.3 Generative AI
1.3.3.1 Definition
1.3.3.2 Uses of Generative AI
1.3.4 Ethics and Integrity in the Uses of AI in Communication
1.4 Exercises and Conclusion: AI and Communication Skills
1.4.1 Advantages of AI for Communication
1.4.2 Disadvantages and Challenges of AI in Communication
1.4.3 Summary: AI and Communication Skills?
1.4.4 Some Exercises

Lesson 2: Non-Verbal Communication Part I – Verbal vs. Non-Verbal Communication

2.1.Nonverbal Communication, Part I
2.2 Purposes of Nonverbal Communication
2.2.1 NVC Replaces Verbal Communication
2.2.2 NVC Complements Verbal Communication
2.2.3 NVC Modifies Verbal Communication
2.2.4 NVC Contradicts Verbal Communication
2.2.5 NVC Regulates Verbal Communication
2.2.6 NVC Expresses Emotions and Interpersonal Attitudes
2.2.7 NVC Negotiates Relationships
2.2.8 NVC Conveys Personal and Social Identity
2.2.9 NVC Contextualizes Interaction
Some Exercises on the Purposes of NVC
NVC Exercise Questions

Lesson 3: Non-Verbal Communication Part II – Vocalics and Kinesics

3. Non-Verbal Communication Part II – Vocalics and Kinesics
3.1. Vocalics
3.2. Kinesics
3.2.1 Gestures
3.2.1.1 Emblems
3.2.1.2 Illustrators
3.2.1.3 Regulators
3.2.1.4 Affect Displays
3.2.1.5 Adaptors
3.2.2 Posture
3.2.3 Eye Gaze
3.2.4 Facial Expression

Lesson 4: Non-Verbal Communication Part III – Haptics and Proxemics

Lesson 5: Non-Verbal Communication Part III – Chronemics and Appearance

5.1 Chronemics
5.1.1 Time in speech
5.1.2 Punctuality
5.1.3. Monochronic vs. Polychronic Time
5.2 Personal Appearance and Environment
5.2.1 The Body
5.2.2 Dress
5.2.3 Environmental Factors
5.2.3.1. Choice of location
5.2.3.2 Influence of surroundings
Exercises

Lesson 6: Telecommunication Part I – Introduction and Letters

Lesson 7: Telecommunication Part II – Telephone and Digital Media

Lesson 8: Communication Skills for Exam Preparation Part I – Before the Exam

8.1 Communication Skills for Exams and Exam Preparations
8.2 Preparing for an Exam
8.2.1 Revising for the Exam
8.2.1.1 Continuous Course Work
8.2.1.2 The Scope of the Exam
8.2.1.3 The Type of the Exam
8.2.1.4 Management of Notes
8.2.1.5 Revision and Memory
8.2.1.6 Exam Questions
8.2.2 Practical Advice for Exam Preparations
8.2.2.1 Organize your study space
8.2.2.2 Find (and break) routines
8.2.2.3 Avoid cramming
8.2.2.4 Watch your diet
8.2.2.5 Get breaks
8.2.2.6 Get sleep
8.2.2.7 Plan your examination day

Lesson 9: Communication Skills for Exam Preparation Part II – In and After the Exam

9.1 In the Exam
9.1.1 Read, Understand and Prioritize Questions
9.1.2 Further Points to Remember During the Exam
9.2 After The Exam
9.2.1 How to Make the Best of your Results
9.2.1.1 Reflect on your preparation
9.2.1.2 Reflect on your performance
9.2.1.3 Reflect on what you might do differently in future exams
9.2.2 How to Deal with Failure
9.2.2.2 Action Plan
Exercises

Self-Assessment

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1	Speaker	2	Speech	3	Audience

4	Effect	5	Occasion	6	Aristotle

collocation		solution
to take	aback	surprise
	after	resemble (e.g. a parent)
	apart	dismantle / defeat, criticize
	aside	lead away from a group to talk in private
	away	remove / buy and carry away
	for	assume that sb is sth
	in	receive, include / observe / fool, trick
	off	remove / start to fly (plane)
	on	take on board / employ / undertake /assume
	out	destroy / lead or carry from
	out on	make the scapegoat for
	over	assume control or direction
	round	lead on a tour
	through	read something to somebody, repeat it, to check accuracy
	to	go away to a place, an escape / move towards and enter / adopt a habit or practice / form a liking for /
	up	lift / absorb / adopt (a pastime) /start / continue / mention (a topic) / interrupt in order to disagree / occupy

collocation		solution
to take	the air	go for a walk
	something amiss	be offended by something
	something as /for gospel	believe credulously
	a back seat	change to a less important function
	a bow /curtain	acknowledge applause by bowing
	the cash and let the credit go	put immediate financial advantage above other considerations
	a chance	attempt to do knowing that one may incur injury loss etc, take a risk
	the count	be (knocked) unconscious or helpless
	the floor	rise to address (a meeting, an assembly)
	a lot of stick	suffer a lot of (unfair) criticism, blame
	one’s medicine	submit to something unpleasant
	the plunge	finally do something one has been undecided about
	the strain	endure
	a tumble	fall; diminish sharply or suddenly
	umbrage at something	be offended by something
	wing	rise in flight, become active

Meaning	Collocation /Idiom
something is very unlikely	when pigs fly
something is very easy	a piece of cake
looking in the wrong place	barking up the wrong tree
avoid the main topic	beat about the bush
happens very rarely	once in a blue moon
not wanting to take a decision	sit on the fence
don’t take too seriously what somebody has said	take with a pinch /grain of salt
call for help when you don’t need it	cry wolf
hear as a rumour	on the grapevine
something is very expensive	something costs an arm and a leg
controversial issue unpleasant to deal with	hot potato
be brave in the face of adversity	keep a stiff upper lip
upset about something that happened in the past	a chip on one’s shoulder
an unbelievable tale	a cock and bull story
die	kick the bucket
somebody who is unpredictable	loose cannon
in a risky situation	out on a limb
exact likeness	spitting image

Course Prerequisite(s)

About Course

Course Content

Lesson 1: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Communication Skills in Focus

1.1 Introduction

1.2. Artificial Intelligence: A Short History

1.2.1 Early Fantasies: Jonathan Swift

1.2.2 Recent History of AI

1.3 Some Core Feature and Usages of AI in Communication

1.3.1 Major AI Developments

1.3.1.1 Natural Language Processing (NLP)

1.3.1.2 Large Language Models (LLMs)

1.3.1.3 Machine Translation

1.3.2 Major AI Tools for Communication

1.3.2.1 Grammar and Spell Checker

1.3.2.2 Paraphraser

1.3.3 Generative AI

1.3.3.1 Definition

1.3.3.2 Uses of Generative AI

1.3.4 Ethics and Integrity in the Uses of AI in Communication

1.4 Exercises and Conclusion: AI and Communication Skills

1.4.1 Advantages of AI for Communication

1.4.2 Disadvantages and Challenges of AI in Communication

1.4.3 Summary: AI and Communication Skills?

1.4.4 Some Exercises

Lesson 2: Non-Verbal Communication Part I – Verbal vs. Non-Verbal Communication

2.1.Nonverbal Communication, Part I

2.2 Purposes of Nonverbal Communication

2.2.1 NVC Replaces Verbal Communication

2.2.2 NVC Complements Verbal Communication

2.2.3 NVC Modifies Verbal Communication

2.2.4 NVC Contradicts Verbal Communication

2.2.5 NVC Regulates Verbal Communication

2.2.6 NVC Expresses Emotions and Interpersonal Attitudes

2.2.7 NVC Negotiates Relationships

2.2.8 NVC Conveys Personal and Social Identity

2.2.9 NVC Contextualizes Interaction

Some Exercises on the Purposes of NVC

NVC Exercise Questions

Lesson 3: Non-Verbal Communication Part II – Vocalics and Kinesics

3. Non-Verbal Communication Part II – Vocalics and Kinesics

3.1. Vocalics

3.2. Kinesics

3.2.1 Gestures

3.2.1.1 Emblems

3.2.1.2 Illustrators

3.2.1.3 Regulators

3.2.1.4 Affect Displays

3.2.1.5 Adaptors

3.2.2 Posture

3.2.3 Eye Gaze

3.2.4 Facial Expression

Lesson 4: Non-Verbal Communication Part III – Haptics and Proxemics

4.1. Haptics

4.1.1 Types of Touch

4.1.2 Touch in Various Situations

4.1.2.1 Handshake

4.1.2.2 Gender

4.2.Proxemics

4.2.1 Personal Space and Interpersonal Distance

4.2.2 Territory and Personal Space

4.2.3 Orientation, Relative Positions in Communication

Lesson 5: Non-Verbal Communication Part III – Chronemics and Appearance

5.1 Chronemics

5.1.1 Time in speech

5.1.2 Punctuality

5.1.3. Monochronic vs. Polychronic Time

5.2 Personal Appearance and Environment

5.2.1 The Body

5.2.2 Dress

5.2.3 Environmental Factors

5.2.3.1. Choice of location

5.2.3.2 Influence of surroundings

Exercises

Lesson 6: Telecommunication Part I – Introduction and Letters

6.1 Telecommunication Part I – Introduction and Letters

6.2 Some History

6.3 Letters Writing Skills

6.3.1 Personal Letters

6.3.2 Business Letter